Surname Carls - Meaning and Origin
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Carls: What does the surname Carls mean?
The last name Carls is typically of Germanic origin and is found primarily in the northern part of Germany and southern parts of Scandinavia. The name is derived from a personal name of the same spelling, “Karl”, meaning “free man”. This name was popular during the Middle Ages and was particularly favored by kings and high-class noblemen. It can also be found as an alternate spelling for the name Karlson, which is derived from the same root. In its Germanic form, Carls is most often used as a patronymic, suggesting descent from the ancestral “Carl”.
In modern times, Carls can be used as a surname or first name and is found around the world. It’s still a popular name in northern Germany and Scandinavia, but can also be found in significant numbers in other countries, including Australia, Canada, and the United States. On a personal level, it is typically associated with strong family values and the idea that one’s relationships are at the heart of life. As a result, it often connotes loyalty and a strong sense of togetherness.
Order DNA origin analysisCarls: Where does the name Carls come from?
The last name Carls is most commonly found today in Europe, particularly in Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. It is also found in other parts of the world, including the United States and Canada, although the numbers are significantly lower.
In the United States, the last name Carls is found mostly in the Midwest, including the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan. The last name also has some presence in the states of Iowa, Ohio, and Illinois. In Canada, Carls is more concentrated in Ontario and British Columbia.
The origin of the last name Carls is German, and it often appears as Karls in that country. It's thought to have been used as a reference to the name Charles, or to have derived from a location, such as Karlstal in the Rhineland-Palatinate region.
It is also possible that the term Carls is derived from an Old German word, ‘Karolus,’ which translates to ‘free-man.’ Variations of the Carls name can also be seen in other European countries.
In Sweden, the last name Carls is more common, likely because of the higher historic rate of immigration from European countries with the last name. The variations of the name in Sweden can be seen in the last names Karlsson, Karlson, Karlström, Karlströmer, Karlsberg or Karlberg.
The last name Carls is most commonly seen in Europe today, although there are also lower levels of the name found in the United States and Canada. Its popularity in Europe is likely due to its German origin, while its presence in other parts of the world can likely be attributed to the historic presence of immigration from Europe.
Variations of the surname Carls
The surname Carls has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The spelling variations of Carls include Karls, Karlson, Carlson, Carleson, Carlesen, Carlin, Carlsen, Carlsson, Carlsdatter, Karl, Karle, Carlo, Charlson, and Karleson. Other variant spellings include Carlson, Carlsonn, and Carlsson.
Germanic countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Norway, were known as the home of the Carls surname. The Carls surname is believed to have derived from the Germanic personal name “Karl”. It is also thought to be derived from the Latin “Carolus”, and in Polish equates to “Karol”.
The Carls surname has a few distinct spellings and surnames in Norway: Karlson, Karlsgaard, Karlsson and Carlsgaard. It is thought that these may have been the result of immigrant influences stemming from the Scandinavian language. In Denmark, the Carlsen and Carlsson, Carlsen, Carlsgaard, Karleson and Karlsgaard are common spellings of the surname.
In Sweden, the following surnames are related to Carls: Carleson, Karlson, Karlsson, Carlsson, and Carlssen. The Carleson surname in Sweden is said to be derived from the same family as the name Karlson, and may have been an adaptation of the Swedish language to the Scandinavian languages.
The Carls surname can also be found in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. In the United States, among the Anglo-Americans, the surname is spelled as Carlson, Carlsen, Carleson, and Carleson. Some of the Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America have adapted the surname to spellings such as Carlos, which is a form of Karol in Polish, and Carrasco in Spanish.
The Carls surname is also present in England, Australia, New Zealand, and some other countries throughout the world. UK spellings can include Carless, Carles, Carless, and Charless, which may have come from the pronunciation of the surname in Scandinavian languages.
In summary, the surname Carls has numerous variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. It can be found in countries all around the world, each with their own unique spellings and surnames.
Famous people with the name Carls
- Kristen Carls: an American actress, best known for her work with the Arizona Opera Company.
- Fritz Carls: an Austrian-American classical pianist, recording artist and educator.
- John Carls: a retired professional ice hockey player, who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 17 seasons.
- Jack Carls: an American politician who served as a member of the North Dakota House of Representatives.
- Michael Carls: an American basketball player and coach, currently an assistant coach with the Indiana Hoosiers Men's Basketball team.
- Ernie Carls: a former infielder who played in Major League Baseball from 1909 to 1914.
- David Carls: a Swedish producer, film director, filmmaker, composer and musician.
- Jean Carls: a French classical violinist and concert soloist.
- Joseph Carls: an American musician, record producer and songwriter.
- Chad Carls: an American actor, best known for his roles in films such as Angels in the Outfield and How to Make an American Quilt.